March always feels like the deep breath before the exhale. The light lingers a little longer, the air softens (just slightly), and we start emerging from full-on winter mode. After months of bundling up and keeping cozy, it finally feels like we’re stepping out of hibernation — and we’re celebrating the best way we know how: with coffee, community, and a lineup of events at Tala.

Read what’s brewing this month.

We hosted our annual holiday party last Saturday at our roastery, featuring the same theme as the cafes: Cozy Cabin Christmas. Everyone came dressed in their best flannels to eat some barbecue and play bingo. We try to get all of the staff together as much as possible, but it was especially nice to have everyone here to celebrate the holidays!

Last Saturday, we threw our Ice Cream Social and Costume Party and had a great turnout! The cafe was buzzing all day, and our one-day-only affogato special was a huge hit, with espresso poured over Oberweis ice cream

Our “Behind The Bar'“ series highlights one of our team members, celebrating their unique contribution to the Tala experience. We believe the connection across the bar can be meaningful and impactful. Our team puts a smile on the faces of so many each day by simply serving delicious beverages and being an authentic presence in each person’s day. Learn more about what makes each person on the Tala Team unique with this personal interview.

Last Saturday, we hosted our very first Latte Art Throw Down at our Roastery in Libertyville! We had an amazing turnout of baristas, home coffee enthusiasts, cafe folks, and community members all coming together to compete and celebrate the craft of latte art. The night was a wonderful reminder of the incredible coffee community that we are so lucky to be a part of. 

Just like any other fruit, coffee is seasonal. There are portions of the year that coffee is being cultivated and another portion when coffee cherries are ripe for picking. Lucky for us, coffee is grown in many different countries around the world. Each country has a different harvest season, with some countries having multiple harvests per year.

Your morning coffee can do much more than just energize you—it can give your garden a boost too. From backyard pots to larger agricultural applications, coffee grounds are an eco-friendly addition to any soil system.

Matcha has become an internet sensation over the last decade due to its photo-worthy beauty, unique flavor, and plethora of health benefits. But there’s much more than meets the eye when it comes to this tasty drink.

Mauricio Salaverria has built a reputation for producing some of the most vibrant and beautifully balanced coffees in El Salvador, and this latest natural-processed lot is no exception.